We, the zero accountability nation

How many of you have been ashamed, and shocked, at the revelations that two (so far) from the ‘most wanted’ terrorists list of fifty handed over to Pakistan are actually living in India? If reports are to be believed, more such names of ‘most wanted terrorists’ are happily living in different parts of the country may tumble out soon.

While it may make us the laughing stock in the world, while it may give Pakistan a reason to sneer at us and the shoddy work we do when we exchange dossiers that are reported and discussed the world over, while it may give Pakistan a handle to take us on when it is otherwise at the receiving end the world over for harbours terrorists, I too feel sad over all that. But I feel worse at the zero accountability that exists in our system.

As soon as the first of ‘most wanted’ was found to be living in Thane, the Indian home minister, otherwise known for his poise, professionalism, charm and eloquence, said the Intelligence Bureau was responsible. Sure Mr home minister, but the Intelligence Bureau reports to you. Why can’t you ever say you take responsibility, especially when all of you waste no time in demanding everybody else’s scalp if something goes wrong?

And when the second one was found to be happily living in Thane, the nation’s premier investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation, said it has suspended a few of its officers for the goof up. Well done!

Do you see the common thread in both reactions? The people at the top are never responsible for any faux pas. It is always someone junior. It is always the case that a scapegoat is found, sent on leave and the rest carry on with their task of no stress, till the next screw up happens and a next scapegoat is to be found.

And even as they do that, those who should genuinely take the blame, who have enjoyed the perks of high position in the society, are busy spending most of their time trying to wangle an extension or a cushy posting or fending off challenge from colleagues for some posting/assignment.

Don’t have to look far for what I am saying. Just move a bit away from the ‘most wanted’ list and switch to the commonwealth games scandal. While sundry babus etc are being targeted and of course a very high profile and visible target, Suresh Kalmadi too has been arrested, the nation’s top babu, who had okayed several of those decisions courtesy his being the head of various bureaucratic decision making committees, was busy jettisoning some of those who could have ousted him from his perch, where he still sits with three extensions, and if grapevine is to be believed, is trying hard for a fourth extension.

Yesterday, as soon as the reports came that a second person from the list is living happily in Mumbai and not in the company of Dawood in Pakistan, I tweeted that it is a systemic failure that results in such embarrassing and shoddy work. Almost immediately, my once colleague and now a senior editor with another media organisation responded that “This systemic failure is becoming a convenient excuse. The buck must stop at the top”. I couldn’t agree with him more.

We the zero-accountability nation

How many of you have been ashamed, and shocked, at the revelations that two (so far) from the ‘most wanted’ terrorists list of fifty handed over to Pakistan are actually living in India? If reports are to be believed, more such names of ‘most wanted terrorists’, happily living in different parts of the country, may tumble out soon.

While it may make us the laughing stock in the world, while it may give Pakistan a reason to sneer at us and the shoddy work we do when we exchange dossiers that are reported and discussed the world over, while it may give Pakistan a handle to take us on when it is otherwise at the receiving end the world over for harbours terrorists, I feel worse at the zero accountability that exists in our system.

As soon as the first of ‘most wanted’ was found to be living in Thane, the Indian home minister, otherwise known for his poise, professionalism, charm and eloquence, said the Intelligence Bureau was responsible. Sure Mr home minister, but the Intelligence Bureau reports to you. Why can’t you ever say you take responsibility, especially when all of you waste no time in demanding everybody else’s scalp if something goes wrong?

And when the second one was found to be happily living in Thane, the nation’s premier investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation, said it has suspended a few of its officers for the goof up. Well done!

Do you see the common thread in both reactions? The people at the top are never responsible for any faux pas. It is always someone junior. It is always the case that a scapegoat is found, sent on leave and the rest carry on with their task of no stress, till the next screw up happens and a next scapegoat is to be found.

And even as they do that, those who should genuinely take the blame, who have enjoyed the perks of high position in the society, are busy spending most of their time trying to wangle an extension or a cushy posting or fending off challenge from colleagues for some posting/assignment.

Don’t have to look far for what I am saying. Just move a bit away from the ‘most wanted’ list and switch to the commonwealth games scandal. While sundry babus etc are being targeted and of course a very high profile and visible target, Suresh Kalmadi too has been arrested, the nation’s top babu, who had okayed several of those decisions courtesy his being the head of various bureaucratic decision making committees, was busy jettisoning some of those who could have ousted him from his perch, where he still sits with three extensions, and if grapevine is to be believed, is trying hard for a fourth extension.

Yesterday, as soon as the reports came that a second person from the list is living happily in Mumbai and not in the company of Dawood in Pakistan, I tweeted that it is a systemic failure that results in such embarrassing and shoddy work. Almost immediately, my once colleague and now a senior editor with another media organisation responded that “This systemic failure is becoming a convenient excuse. The buck must stop at the top”. I couldn’t agree with him more.

Author

Rajesh Kalra is the Chief Editor of Times Internet and business head for the non-English languages properties. A journalist for two decades, he also tried his hands at entrepreneurship in between. Although he has written on several subjects, he has a weakness for IT and telecommunications. He is an avid sportsman, a trained high-altitude mountaineer, a passionate mountain biker and a marathoner. His blog, Random Access, will cover issues that take into account these varied interests.
Follow @rajeshkalra on Twitter

Rajesh Kalra is the Chief Editor of Times Internet and business head for the non-English languages properties. A journalist for two decades, he also tried h. . .